[size=14pt]Obama demands information on Yar’Adua’s health [/size]
By Agency Reporter, Published: Monday, 1 Mar 2010

US President Barack Obama‘s administration has put an urgent request to Aso Rock: What is the condition of President Umaru Yar’Adua‘s health?

A US-based Nigerian news agency, Empowered Newswire, reported that after a US government statement, issued by the State Department on Friday, an answer to the American request is still being awaited. This is amid growing concern in Washington DC about the future of Nigeria, especially since last week‘s sudden return of Nigeria‘s ailing President.

According to a daily US government bulletin circulated among top US government officials and a handful of interested reporters, “The US diplomats in Abuja have asked Nigerian officials about Yar‘Adua‘s condition.”

Although the Americans are yet to get a response, the government bulletin said the US was aware that the Nigerian “President is in ‘dire health’ and is unable to govern the country.”

It is believed that based on US intelligence and diplomatic reports, the Americans knew clearly that Yar’Adua was in no condition to return to his seat because of the seriousness of his medical problems.

This explains why the US sent its Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr. Johnnie Carson, to meet with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan recently to assure him of America’s support.

That knowledge, it is also believed, influenced a series of US government activities on Nigeria like the US Senate’s hearing last Tuesday on the matter and the press availability of top US officials dealing with Nigeria this past week.

The daily US government bulletin quoted a top State Department official as saying, “We do have concerns about his movement from Saudi Arabia back into Nigeria and what some people around him might be trying to do with that.”

The US official also added that this was “the basis of the warnings that have been issued from Washington to Nigeria in recent days.”

The bulletin was titled, “Concern in Washington over Nigerian Political Stability” and was written as a news story by a US State Department official, Mr. Stephen Kaufman.

According to Kaufman, “The Obama administration has concerns over the stability of Nigeria and says that while it welcomes the return of incapacitated President Umaru Yar‘Adua, the country needs a ‘strong and effective leader’ in charge.”

The bulletin also quoted the US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, P.J. Crowley, as saying on Friday that ”what‘s important first and foremost is who is , the recognised leader of Nigeria,, and right now I believe it is Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.”

According to Crowley, as quoted in the bulletin, the US is concerned that Yar’Adua’s return could be “an effort by his senior advisers to upset Nigeria‘s stability in an effort to forward their personal interests.”

Crowley added, “We have tremendous concern about stability. And our message to all of the players in Nigeria is: make sure that this moves forward in a stable, constitutional and democratic way. Nigeria at this point needs a strong and effective leader to ensure the stability of the country and to manage Nigeria‘s many political, economic and security challenges.”

Carson had earlier stated that the US had determined that Nigeria could be ignored or dismissed, hinting that the US would likely continue being particularly outspoken until the matter was completely resolved in Aso Rock.

On Wednesday, President Yar’Adua’s spokesman, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, issued a statement addressing Goodluck as Vice-President instead of Acting President. This drew the ire of some Nigerians and Nigeria‘s foreign partners like the US, which issued a prompt statement openly rebuking a situation whereby some senior advisers were trying to turn the President‘s return into an opportunity to promote their selfish ambitions.

The US statement reacting to the sudden return specifically raised doubts about the President‘s medical fitness, forcing Adeniyi to retract the statement the following day and address Jonathan as Acting President.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100301235653

He already knows, so it is kinda funny that he is getting all officious on us.

LOL! I think so too. They are just dancing around deliberately. I think out of courtesy, they are giving us the chance to reveal the information first. But our silly government officials are too dumb to see the signs. You know say America no dey waste time. Just watch as the drama unfolds. When push comes to shove, the U.S WILL reveal the information. And I think it's going to happen sooner than later.

I think they should go ahead and make public what is meant to be said in general.

Who is Adeniyi to say jonathan should continue as acting president.Is he the information minister?

Let dem find somewhere and rest their @$$€$.

Obama knows already - The saudis an american ally and the reason why yaradua was sent hom will ahve already informed the US of his condition. The Americans pressured Saudias for yaradua to be sent back to Nigeria. - so Obama already knows and has known for the last months.

Obama has no business asking such question in the first place. Nigeria is certainly not a satellite state of the US and should not be responding to such requests.

What a demand? Obama should spare us all these craps and american politic and face the demand of the US economy.
Yaradua was in Saudi for almost 90 he never demanded any info from Saudi governemnt on his health. In all the saga of Saudi refusing our delegates landing space, he never said anything. Now he is Nigeria he has the gut to demand information on his health. If i may ask, what does he need that for? To my opinion is non of his business.

Afam:

Obama has no business asking such question in the first place. Nigeria is certainly not a satellite state of the US and should not be responding to such requests.

Obama will get a response from Nigeria promptly. Nigerians will find out the truth about Yar'Adua's health in the process.

Obama's demands are simply to put pressure on the government to release the information to the Nigerian public - Only a fool or the naive will believe that the Saudis have not yet fully briefed Obama and the US intelligence agencies.

Obama, Condoleeza Rice and all those other clowns should shut up. They have no right to demand or even request.


If it was Obama that all of a sudden fell critically ill and Joe Biden took over, would African Americans agree to all that crap. Would they not raise suspicions as regards whether there were no racial agenda to remove the African American President to replace him with a European American. Especially when Europe starts showing unrequested solidarity for the acting president.

Its non of Obama's business to know Yaraduas health status. He should shut da Zap UP  en focus on Americans' dream before he get kicked-out by the republicans.

princekevo:

What a demand? Obama should spare us all these craps and american politic and face the demand of the US economy.
Yaradua was in Saudi for almost 90 he never demanded any info from Saudi governemnt on his health. In all the saga of Saudi refusing our delegates landing space, he never said anything. Now he is Nigeria he has the gut to demand information on his health. If i may ask, what does he need that for? To my opinion is non of his business.

This is what we get when we cannot get our house in order, Those stronger are doing the ordering for us. Ride right on Obama!

Afam:

Obama has no business asking such question in the first place. Nigeria is certainly not a satellite state of the US and should not be responding to such requests.

True, but would you have preferred if he used the word "request", just as a way of showing concern?

Nigerian is a sovereign state, but news regarding the economic status, power tussle, political instability amidst poverty, disease and heightened tension among its citizenry is of course a going concern for the international community who have business relations with the country.

The world is a global village, if Obama disappears for a medical treatment for 90+ days without an official letter to the US congress and he sneaks into the US at night, the whole world will be demanding to know his health status, why should Nigeria be any different?

violent:

True, but would you have preferred if he used the word "request", just as a way of showing concern?

Nigerian is a sovereign state, but news regarding the economic status, power tussle, political instability amidst poverty, disease and heightened tension among its citizenry is of course a going concern for the international community who have business relations with the country.

The world is a global village, if Obama disappears for a medical treatment for 90+ days without an official letter to the US congress and he sneaks into the US at night, the whole world will be demanding to know his health status, why should Nigeria be any different?

 

There is no show of concern here because the US does what will give its citizens and economy maximum benefit regardless of what it takes including murder and wars so the language whether ask or request is immaterial.

This is a Nigerian problem and no country has the right to demand information from Nigeria.

peace in nigeria is very important to the international community not because we have so much to offer but because a war in nigeria will be the biggest after ww2.a war where more than one hundred million people will be displaced and more than 70,000,000 refugees produced.that is going to be a disaster.

Abagworo:

peace in nigeria is very important to the international community not because we have so much to offer but because a war in nigeria will be the biggest after ww2.a war where more than one hundred million people will be displaced and more than 70,000,000 refugees produced.that is going to be a disaster.

You are correct indeed but my position is based on the hypocrisy and double standards of the West especially the US and Britain.

The USA should just shut the hell up with their concern. They are not concerned about anything but how the can make money for nothing from Nigeria the way they're doing in Iraq.


If Nigeria goes to war today, the USA is the country to gain the most, being the highest arms dealer in the world. Just as they do in Darfur.


Additionally, no oil consuming nation will gain more from a war in Nigeria than the USA too because they'll be able to buy a hundred barrels of crude oil for just one M16 rifle. Why do you think all these countries gave Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun? Why do you think they were so alarmed when the Nigerian government agreed to the judgement?



The USA is the worst enemy of every country on this planet and their show of concern is just an expression of need to kill, steal, and destroy.

nex:

The USA should just shut the hell up with their concern. They are not concerned about anything but how the can make money for nothing from Nigeria the way they're doing in Iraq.


If Nigeria goes to war today, the USA is the country to gain the most, being the highest arms dealer in the world. Just as they do in Darfur.


Additionally, no oil consuming nation will gain more from a war in Nigeria than the USA too because they'll be able to buy a hundred barrels of crude oil for just one M16 rifle. Why do you think all these countries gave Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun? Why do you think they were so alarmed when the Nigerian government agreed to the judgement?



The USA is the worst enemy of every country on this planet and their show of concern is just an expression of need to kill, steal, and destroy.

Well stated. I only hope that more Nigerians will see beyond the mask the US is putting so they can see them for what they really stand for.

It seems the only time we disagree like mad is when it comes to Ojukwu & Biafra.

The fact that the US is Nigeria's biggest trading partner is not clear to many Nigerians.The importance Nigeria plays in determining the world energy prices is another we need to come to terms with.Moreover it will take the the intervention of the world big brother to call such men like Olusegun Adeniyi who cannot respect himself to order.If we put our house in order,we will not have Obama issuing query and ultimatum to us,so whatever they do to us now,we deserve it.

He should not asking such a question jare and face his own country, Nigerian citizen should be the one to ask and not him.

That's is why it is good that our government should be faithfull to us.

naija_swag:

The fact that the US is Nigeria's biggest trading partner is not clear to many Nigerians.The importance Nigeria plays in determining the world energy prices is another we need to come to terms with.Moreover it will take the the intervention of the world big brother to call such men like Olusegun Adeniyi who cannot respect himself to order.If we put our house in order,we will not have Obama issuing query and ultimatum to us,so whatever they do to us now,we deserve it.

Trading partner? Based on fair trade or what? The US can only make such comments because some people give them the impression that their position is important.

Nigeria can make money selling whatever it wants to sell to other countries in a moment's notice. The US isn't the only buyer in the market and in any case having a very high debt profile (almost impossible to pay off) is not a profile serious nations would want to court at all costs.

nex:

The USA should just shut the hell up with their concern. They are not concerned about anything but how the can make money for nothing from Nigeria the way they're doing in Iraq.
If Nigeria goes to war today, the USA is the country to gain the most, being the highest arms dealer in the world. Just as they do in Darfur.

Additionally, no oil consuming nation will gain more from a war in Nigeria than the USA too because they'll be able to buy a hundred barrels of crude oil for just one M16 rifle. Why do you think all these countries gave Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun? Why do you think they were so alarmed when the Nigerian government agreed to the judgement?

The USA is the worst enemy of every country on this planet and their show of concern is just an expression of need to kill, steal, and destroy.

I Disagree because Nigeria doesnt have to go to war for US to get Oil for cheap or protect their Oil interest. All they want is a president of Nigeria who can govern Nigeria well and at the same time keep western interest of Oil and trade flowing. Thats it, Nigeria is even bigger than Oil sef, The second largest economy in Africa- The US wouldnt want Nigeria to go to war because economically it would effect other countries who Nigeria trades with and who are also trade with America.

So all they want a is a Guy who is can preside well in Nigeria, keep stablity, and trade going.
Ghana and SA are pro america and pro-britain- Look how well they are doing.

Theres only two paths countries can toe Pro West or East-

Let Obama command us. We have no shame and haven't earned our sovereignty. How can anything but a banana republic find it difficult to eject the wife of an incapacitated president? From House of Reps to Senate and security forces. . . What a disgrace!

Abeg, Obama, please give us more orders jare!

You're just kicking a man who is down, and it's in bad taste. The man is already dying, leave him alone.

Seun:

You're just kicking a man who is down, and it's in bad taste. The man is already dying, leave him alone.

The mans family and the demons that sorrounded him are dragging the country into the abyss. We either ignore the taste and kick them out or face the bottomless pit.

:-x :-x :-x

Its not the US biz but since the govt doesn't respect its citizens, maybe the US is just looking out for us since our govt fears any country that is not African.

Afam:

Trading partner? Based on fair trade or what? The US can only make such comments because some people give them the impression that their position is important.

Nigeria can make money selling whatever it wants to sell to other countries in a moment's notice. The US isn't the only buyer in the market and in any case having a very high debt profile (almost impossible to pay off) is not a profile serious nations would want to court at all costs.

Which country on this planet is fair to the other?  Everybody wants a better life and it must many a times come at the expense of others.The US is the biggest consumer of everything on planet earth.Why did they flout Chinese the other day on Dalai lama and Taiwan.It is because the Chinese needs their market more than they need the Chinese.Look at the Japanese,70% of the vehicle recall is in the US,if the US boycotts any economy,it is always difficult.Get it in your head.The hegemony and imperialism of the US is not yet over at least in the foreseeable future.

Nigeria is supposed to occupy the position of the US in world affairs in the Africa giving us leverage over many countries but because we refuse to put our house in order,we had expect a lot worse than what we see today.US don't go dictating to South Africa because they have their oars together.

naija_swag:

Look at the Japanese,70% of the vehicle recall is in the US,if the US boycotts any economy,it is always difficult.Get it in your head.The hegemony and imperialism of the US is not yet over at least in the foreseeable future.

If I create space for every nonsense someone types here into my head then I will run mad so thanks for the offer but will not buy what you are selling.

naija_swag:

Nigeria is supposed to occupy the position of the US in world affairs in the Africa giving us leverage over many countries but because we refuse to put our house in order,we had expect a lot worse than what we see today.US don't go dictating to South Africa because they have their oars together.

I only hope you have the faintest idea why the US cannot dictate to South Africa or even Zimbabwe. Do you think its every country that swallows the propaganda you are spreading?

Afam:


This is a Nigerian problem and no country has the right to demand information from Nigeria.

I do not totally agree with you bro. The current political situation is of great concern to the international community. God forbid that the situation degenerates into full blown war, I bet you the intenational community would find it difficult to carry-out peace keeping operations. How many peacekeepers are you going to use in a country of over 140 million? The US, UK and EU are showing concerns because they know what it would cost them if things are allowed to go worse than this. You remember Murphy's law? "If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong", hence in potential problem solving you try to make sure things don't go wrong (which is risk analysis) inorder to avoid causing any problems.

I am not a typical fan of the US, but I like what they are doing in this regard. Since the so-called cabal responsible for this mess does not respect or fear Nigerians; believe me they respect and fear the US.  This is what the US is trying to leverage upon by speaking out and showing its interest so as to scare these idiots (turai and co). Let's watch as the journey continues! May God help Nigeria and Ngerians!

sjeezy8:


Theres only two paths countries can toe Pro West or East-

You're a decade out of date, the Eastern bloc fell in the 90's.
Where have you been since the early 90's?